Particle Irradiation Plan Isoenergy Layer Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
In particle therapy, the total irradiation time is prolonged due to the need for multiple isoenergy layers, which can result in inefficient treatment and increased patient exposure, despite advancements in radiation planning and control systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for determining an irradiation plan that selectively irradiates only isoenergy layers meeting specific boundary conditions, such as minimum energy, maximum energy, grid points, particle count, dose, and dose contribution, to optimize the treatment plan and reduce unnecessary irradiation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple isoenergy layers are used to irradiate the target volume, then the dose distribution quality is improved, but the total irradiation time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes non-compliant isoenergy layers from the irradiation plan based on specified boundary conditions. By identifying and excluding isoenergy layers that do not meet minimum energy, maximum energy, grid points, particle count, dose, or dose contribution criteria, the system eliminates unnecessary irradiation steps while preserving the essential dose distribution quality provided by compliant layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter-based filtering by establishing boundary conditions (minimum energy, maximum energy, grid points, particle count, dose, dose contribution) that define which isoenergy layers should be included in the irradiation plan. By changing the selection criteria from including all layers to selectively including only those meeting specific parameter thresholds, the system optimizes the balance between dose distribution quality and irradiation time.
2Reliability
If all isoenergy layers are irradiated to ensure complete dose coverage, then the plan quality is maintained, but the system operation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes non-compliant isoenergy layers from the irradiation plan based on specified boundary conditions. By identifying and excluding isoenergy layers that do not meet minimum energy, maximum energy, grid points, particle count, dose, or dose contribution criteria, the system eliminates unnecessary irradiation steps while preserving the essential dose distribution quality provided by compliant layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by irradiating only the necessary subset of isoenergy layers that meet the boundary conditions rather than all possible layers. This selective approach provides sufficient dose coverage for effective treatment while avoiding the excessive action of irradiating layers that would not contribute meaningfully to the treatment outcome, thereby improving operational efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If the irradiation plan includes all necessary isoenergy layers for accurate dose delivery, then the treatment precision is improved, but the patient exposure time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes non-compliant isoenergy layers from the irradiation plan based on specified boundary conditions. By identifying and excluding isoenergy layers that do not meet minimum energy, maximum energy, grid points, particle count, dose, or dose contribution criteria, the system eliminates unnecessary irradiation steps while preserving the essential dose distribution quality provided by compliant layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter-based filtering by establishing boundary conditions (minimum energy, maximum energy, grid points, particle count, dose, dose contribution) that define which isoenergy layers should be included in the irradiation plan. By changing the selection criteria from including all layers to selectively including only those meeting specific parameter thresholds, the system optimizes the balance between dose distribution quality and irradiation time.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device relates to a method and a device (10) for determining an irradiation plan for a particle irradiation unit (20). According to the invention, a target volume (6) within a test object (14; 18) is irradiated according to the irradiation plan with a particle beam (16) using the particle irradiation unit (20). The radiation plan is determined in order to apply the energy of the particle beam (16) in the target volume (6) according to a predetermined dose distribution, the target volume (6) and the predetermined dose distribution being specified. In addition, a boundary condition is specified for at least one of the isoenergy layers (7-9) and the irradiation plan is additionally specified such that the boundary condition is met for the at least one isoenergy layer. The boundary condition comprises at least one of the following conditions: ? a minimum boundary energy, ? a maximum boundary energy, ? a minimum grid point number, ? a minimum total particle number, ? a minimum total dose, ? a minimum dose contribution to a total dose to be administered, ? a minimum contribution to a target function which is calculated for determining the irradiation plan, and ? a minimum dose compensation error, said dose compensation error standing for an error that is due to the non-irradiation of the respective isoenergy layer despite corresponding compensation by the irradiated isoenergy layers.